Weather, Wisdom and the West

These days the weather is making headlines around the world and debates are raging about the link between long term climate change and short term patterns like temperature and rainfall. I am not a scientist and cannot therefore comment on the details of this important debate but it does seem clear that a ) we are experiencing historically unusual weather patterns and b) the scientists think that the evidence of climate change is 'unequivocal'. I strongly suspect that these are related!

What recent events also throw into sharp relief is that the impact of climate change will be felt on a global basis and as with so many things those least responsible and most unable to respond will suffer the worst. That is where the issue of climate justice fits in. I came across an article by Kofi Annan, the former UN General Secretary, on this subject. He is one of the global 'Elders' pulled together in 2007 by Nelson Mandala to bring their wisdom to bear on some of our biggest problems. Here is an extract of what he has to say on leadership and climate change.

"This is a decisive year. The United Nations Secretary-General has called for a climate summit in New York in September. It is imperative that governments and corporate leaders come to this summit committed to ambitious actions on the climate if we are to stand a chance to reach an agreement in 2015 commensurate with the challenge.

Many of the Elders have shouldered the burden of government. We do not make the mistake of believing that addressing climate change is easy. But we know that there are times when, no matter how difficult the immediate landscape, leaders must show courage and boldness. This is such a time.

Our experience has also taught us that if leaders make the right decisions for the right reasons, their voters will support them. By raising their sights – and shrugging off the restraints imposed by vested interests and short-term political considerations – they can also inspire hope, rebuild trust and mobilise action across society.

Solutions to climate change do not come only from research centres and laboratories but also through innovation by the people most affected. Many communities, businesses, and local and national governments, including in developing countries, are already showing the way to a carbon-neutral world. These efforts have to be scaled up.

Climate justice also demands that those richer countries that have done the most to cause the build-up of greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere – and reaped the benefits - help the poorer nations adapt to the climate change already underway." 

I believe that societies in the West, such as here in Scotland, need to both get their own houses in order and do things that can make a tangible difference to poorer nations. Whilst governments generally take the lead on the latter I think that business and civil society can also play a key role and the 2020 group is looking at what can be done using our collaborative networks.